Irish university in embryology row

A GOVERNOR of University College Cork has criticised the institution after it became the first in Ireland to approve embryonic stem-cell research.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel distanced himself from the university's decision, stating that he had informed the governing body of Catholic Church teaching on stem-cell research "and reiterated that human life is sacred from the moment of conception until death".
He said he believed that "it is wrong to conduct research on embryonic stem cells and such research should be prohibited by law. It is contrary to the ethical and moral teaching of the Catholic Church because it is contrary to the common good."
Embryonic stem-cell research involves the destruction of healthy human embryos: pro-life campaigners argue that it has never led to any proven medical breakthrough, whereas adult stem-cell research, which involves research on non-living tissue such as the placenta, has more scientific use.